Improvement in weather-board gages



W. Z. MARSH. Weather-Board Gage.

No. 198,772. Patented Jan; I, 1878.

a ATTORN EY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. MARSH, OF BROOKS, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WEATHER-BOARD GAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,772, dated January 1, 1878; application filed July30, 1877.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAMIZ. MARSH, of Brooks, in the county of Adams and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weather-Board Gages;

' and I do hereby declare that thefollowingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, and in which the figure illustrates a perspective view of my improved gage for clap or weather boards.

This invention relates to a certain improvement in weather-board gages; and it consists of a stepped bar having an upper inclined arm or extension, its step or right-angular por tion being provided with a tooth or teeth, and its lower portion or leg slotted and provided with a thumb or adjusting nut, sub-' stantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing, A refers to a bar, which is stepped or bent at right angles, as at a, the lower portion or leg A being graduated to the desired scale, and provided with a slot, a, which receives the set-screw b of an adjusting or gaging nut, b, by which the overlapping of the boards may be trued and uni formly' observed. The right-angular portion or step a, connecting the upper inclined arm or extension A to the lower portion or leg A is provided with a claw or tooth, or teeth, a,

which may be sharpened or pointed, to cause. it to easily penetrate the wood or boards, to

retain or secure the gage in position while supporting the board being put on, for which purpose three of said gages are generally used. By means of this instrument the driving of nails into the boards for supporting the one bein g put on, to true which, of course, each of the two workmen putting it on has to use a rule,

is obviated, as is also the latter-mentioned objection, it (the instrument) being also graduated, as above stated, to answer as a rule. This gage or instrument holds the board in position in readiness to be nailed or otherwise permanently secured in place, thus expediting the putting on of the board, and in sections of the country where the wind is frequently very heavy its use prevents the blowing down of the board before it can be fastened, its upper inclined arm or extension A holding the board to its place against the pressure of the wind. It is exceedingly simple, easily to be operated, and so cheap as to be within the reach of all who need it.

It will be seen that instead of providing the step a with two teeth, as illustrated in the drawing, it may be provided with only one tooth, either projecting therefrom midway its width, or to one side of its center.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut. is-

1. The gage for the clap or weather boards, consisting of the stepped barA A A ,having its right-angular portion or step a provided with a claw or tooth, c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The stepped bar A A A having its right-angular portion or step (1 provided with a claw or tooth, c, and its legA graduated and slotted, and provided with an adjusting or gaging screw and nut, b b, substantially as ,anddfor the purpose set forth.

-In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM Z. MARSH. Witnesses:

PERRY MACK,

JOHN T. IRELAND. 

